AFC East: Donald Strickland
The New York Jets have a lot of questions entering free agency. They have a lengthy list of names about to hit the market, spelled out clearly by Brian McIntyre of the well-respected Mac's Football blog.
Here's the list:
Restricted
Here's the list:
Restricted
- TE Matthew Mulligan
- LB Aaron Maybin
- LB Jamaal Westerman
- CB Marquice Cole
- QB Mark Brunell
- QB Kevin O'Connell
- RB LaDainian Tomlinson
- WR Plaxico Burress
- OL Robert Turner
- DT Sione Pouha
- LB Bryan Thomas
- CB Donald Strickland
- S Jim Leonhard
- S Brodney Pool
- K Nick Folk
Pats-Jets II: Revisiting Revis vs. Welker
November, 9, 2011
11/09/11
9:05
AM ET
By
James Walker | ESPN.com
Want to hear a crazy statistic?
New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker is on pace for 132 receptions, 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Whoa!
Enter Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets -- the best cornerback in the NFL. Revis mostly will be responsible for slowing down Welker, who leads the league in receiving. Jets head coach Rex Ryan used Revis a lot on Welker in the first game, which New England won, 30-21.
Round 1 went to Welker.
Now only New England get the win, but Welker had a good day. He caught five passes for 124 yards. Most of his yards came when he beat zone coverage by Revis and safety Eric Smith for a 73-yard reception. Outside of one big play, Welker had just four catches for 51 yards.
Expect New York to put even more emphasis on slowing Welker in the rematch. In the first meeting the Jets mixed it up with mostly Revis, but also some coverage by Kyle Wilson and Donald Strickland in the slot. I think New York should keep Revis on Welker on nearly every play and see if someone else for New England can beat the Jets.
It also helps that New England's offense has struggled lately. Surprisingly the Patriots haven't scored more than 20 points since Week 5.
Revis vs. Welker is one of the biggest chess matches to watch between the Jets and Patriots. The winner of Round 2 has a good chance to lead their team to victory and first place in the AFC East.
New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker is on pace for 132 receptions, 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Whoa!
Enter Darrelle Revis of the New York Jets -- the best cornerback in the NFL. Revis mostly will be responsible for slowing down Welker, who leads the league in receiving. Jets head coach Rex Ryan used Revis a lot on Welker in the first game, which New England won, 30-21.
Round 1 went to Welker.
Now only New England get the win, but Welker had a good day. He caught five passes for 124 yards. Most of his yards came when he beat zone coverage by Revis and safety Eric Smith for a 73-yard reception. Outside of one big play, Welker had just four catches for 51 yards.
Expect New York to put even more emphasis on slowing Welker in the rematch. In the first meeting the Jets mixed it up with mostly Revis, but also some coverage by Kyle Wilson and Donald Strickland in the slot. I think New York should keep Revis on Welker on nearly every play and see if someone else for New England can beat the Jets.
It also helps that New England's offense has struggled lately. Surprisingly the Patriots haven't scored more than 20 points since Week 5.
Revis vs. Welker is one of the biggest chess matches to watch between the Jets and Patriots. The winner of Round 2 has a good chance to lead their team to victory and first place in the AFC East.
WHAT IT MEANS: So the New York Jets captured the Snoopy trophy as the winner of the first annual MetLife Bowl against the New York Giants. Yawn. Based on the way his team played, Rex Ryan should punt the trophy. Forget about the final score, 17-3; the Jets’ starters were badly outplayed in the first half, out gained 209 to 61. The offense was a disaster and the Jets made dumb penalties. Basically, they played like they didn’t give a hoot about the preseason.
WOE IS O: Mark Sanchez & Co. was brutal. Can you say “regression”? In seven possessions, the Jets’ starting offense punted five times, lost a fumble (Sanchez) and, somehow, saved face with a touchdown -- a 17-yard pass to Santonio Holmes. They probably wouldn’t have scored the touchdown if it weren’t for Antonio Cromartie, who set up the offense at the Giants’ 35 with a 70-yard kickoff return.
Sanchez (8-for-16, 64 yards) was off his game from the outset, appearing indecisive as he made his reads. But this mess wasn’t all his fault. The pass protection was shoddy and his receivers, namely Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason, couldn’t gain separation against the Giants’ cornerbacks. That could be something to watch, as Burress and Mason -- 34 and 37, respectively -- aren’t the fastest guys around.
The starters won’t play in Thursday night’s finale against the Eagles, which means the No. 1 offense scored only three touchdowns in 5 1/2 quarters for the preseason. Blech!
DUMB & DUMBER: The Jets were undisciplined, committing five major penalties. The biggest blunder came from rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who was ejected in the third quarter after taking a swing at running back Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs swung back, so he, too, was tossed. Wilkerson, whom the Jets are counting on to be a starter, deserves an earful from Ryan. That is unacceptable behavior.
But Wilkerson wasn’t the only guilty Jet. Right taclke Wayne Hunter (unsportsmanlike conduct), safety Brodney Pool (chop block on a punt), safety Emanuel Cook (facemask) and cornerback Donald Strickland (unnecessary roughness) all committed 15-yard penalties. Shame on them.
All told, the Jets had seven penalties for 79 yards, including a holding call on wide receiver Courtney Smith that nullified a touchdown run by backup quarterback Greg McElroy.
THE PLAX EFFECT: Burress doesn’t need to touch the ball to have an impact on the game. You saw that on Holmes’ touchdown reception. Burress lined up in the right slot, with Holmes on the outside, against the Giants’ three-by-two coverage. Safety Kenny Phillips rolled toward Burress, leaving Holmes in man-to-man against cornerback Corey Webster. Phillips tried to get back, but it was too late. Holmes ran a post route and got open in the back of the end zone.
Aside from that contribution, Burress’ anticipated matchup against his old team turned out to be a big zero -- as in zero catches. Burress, coming off his sensational debut against the Bengals, was targeted four times. In fact, Sanchez completed only four passes to his wideouts.
OPPORTUNISTIC D: For a team with a very good defense, the Jets made an alarmingly low number of interceptions last season (12). So far, they seem to be reversing the trend. Safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker David Harris intercepted two of Manning's passes, giving the Jets six picks in three games (two by Leonhard). Leonhard’s interception was set up by Harris, who came on an inside blitz and slammed Manning.
BEND BUT DON’T BREAK: Aside from the interceptions, the Jets’ No. 1 defense did some nice things in one half of play, holding the Giants to 2-for-8 on third down and 0-for-1 in the red zone. But -- and this is a big "but" -- they were pushed around between the 20s. The Jets allowed 209 total yards in the first half, uncharacteristic for a Rex Ryan-coached defense. Their conventional pass rush was nowhere to be found and there were a couple of missed tackles in the open field, including a big one by linebacker Bart Scott.
THE NEW BRAD: The Jets finally unveiled their 2011 version of the Wildcat, with rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley -- no surprise -- taking the direct snap and playing the role of Brad Smith. The Jets ran it four times, resulting in 39 yards. Kerley ran twice for 13 yards, handed off to Joe McKnight for eight and threw a pass -- yes, a pass! -- to Matt Mulligan for 18. That will give the Cowboys a little extra to think about as they prepare for the season opener.
WOE IS O: Mark Sanchez & Co. was brutal. Can you say “regression”? In seven possessions, the Jets’ starting offense punted five times, lost a fumble (Sanchez) and, somehow, saved face with a touchdown -- a 17-yard pass to Santonio Holmes. They probably wouldn’t have scored the touchdown if it weren’t for Antonio Cromartie, who set up the offense at the Giants’ 35 with a 70-yard kickoff return.
Sanchez (8-for-16, 64 yards) was off his game from the outset, appearing indecisive as he made his reads. But this mess wasn’t all his fault. The pass protection was shoddy and his receivers, namely Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason, couldn’t gain separation against the Giants’ cornerbacks. That could be something to watch, as Burress and Mason -- 34 and 37, respectively -- aren’t the fastest guys around.
The starters won’t play in Thursday night’s finale against the Eagles, which means the No. 1 offense scored only three touchdowns in 5 1/2 quarters for the preseason. Blech!
DUMB & DUMBER: The Jets were undisciplined, committing five major penalties. The biggest blunder came from rookie defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who was ejected in the third quarter after taking a swing at running back Brandon Jacobs. Jacobs swung back, so he, too, was tossed. Wilkerson, whom the Jets are counting on to be a starter, deserves an earful from Ryan. That is unacceptable behavior.
But Wilkerson wasn’t the only guilty Jet. Right taclke Wayne Hunter (unsportsmanlike conduct), safety Brodney Pool (chop block on a punt), safety Emanuel Cook (facemask) and cornerback Donald Strickland (unnecessary roughness) all committed 15-yard penalties. Shame on them.
All told, the Jets had seven penalties for 79 yards, including a holding call on wide receiver Courtney Smith that nullified a touchdown run by backup quarterback Greg McElroy.
THE PLAX EFFECT: Burress doesn’t need to touch the ball to have an impact on the game. You saw that on Holmes’ touchdown reception. Burress lined up in the right slot, with Holmes on the outside, against the Giants’ three-by-two coverage. Safety Kenny Phillips rolled toward Burress, leaving Holmes in man-to-man against cornerback Corey Webster. Phillips tried to get back, but it was too late. Holmes ran a post route and got open in the back of the end zone.
Aside from that contribution, Burress’ anticipated matchup against his old team turned out to be a big zero -- as in zero catches. Burress, coming off his sensational debut against the Bengals, was targeted four times. In fact, Sanchez completed only four passes to his wideouts.
OPPORTUNISTIC D: For a team with a very good defense, the Jets made an alarmingly low number of interceptions last season (12). So far, they seem to be reversing the trend. Safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker David Harris intercepted two of Manning's passes, giving the Jets six picks in three games (two by Leonhard). Leonhard’s interception was set up by Harris, who came on an inside blitz and slammed Manning.
BEND BUT DON’T BREAK: Aside from the interceptions, the Jets’ No. 1 defense did some nice things in one half of play, holding the Giants to 2-for-8 on third down and 0-for-1 in the red zone. But -- and this is a big "but" -- they were pushed around between the 20s. The Jets allowed 209 total yards in the first half, uncharacteristic for a Rex Ryan-coached defense. Their conventional pass rush was nowhere to be found and there were a couple of missed tackles in the open field, including a big one by linebacker Bart Scott.
THE NEW BRAD: The Jets finally unveiled their 2011 version of the Wildcat, with rookie wide receiver Jeremy Kerley -- no surprise -- taking the direct snap and playing the role of Brad Smith. The Jets ran it four times, resulting in 39 yards. Kerley ran twice for 13 yards, handed off to Joe McKnight for eight and threw a pass -- yes, a pass! -- to Matt Mulligan for 18. That will give the Cowboys a little extra to think about as they prepare for the season opener.
Sean McCormick of Football Outsiders takes a look at the biggest remaining questions for each team in the AFC East in this ESPN.com Insider piece. 
Here's a snippet of what he thinks of each team:
Buffalo Bills:
There was simply no way the Bills were going to be able to adequately address all their holes in the space of a single offseason, and to their credit, they haven't thrown lots of money around trying to. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a long-term solution at quarterback -- he may not even be a short-term solution -- but there were no surefire prospects worth burning a top-five draft pick on, and the free agent pickings were slim, particularly if you didn't want to give away the farm for Kevin Kolb. …
The right tackle spot, however, isn't a hole but a canyon, and it doesn't look like Buffalo has done enough to address it. The Bills were 30th in adjusted line yards on runs off right tackle, but that doesn't begin to tell the tale.
Miami Dolphins:
If you were to simply look at the statistics, quarterback would not necessarily be the biggest hole on the Dolphins. Safety Chris Clemons struggled badly getting to the sidelines to provide help over the top and offenses frequently targeted him in isolation in the deep middle of the field; the interior line could use some more help even after Mike Pouncey is inserted into the starting lineup and of course, the special teams were consistently horrific from beginning to end. …
Of course, there are lots of things that statistics don't cover, and it's those things that turned Henne's season from disappointing to catastrophic. Brandon Marshall publicly allied with backup Tyler Thigpen, and took his grievances with Henne to the airwaves, complaining about Henne's refusal to throw him the ball with sufficient frequency. Henne was benched during the season, reclaimed his starting job only because of injuries, and then was injured himself.
New England Patriots:
The hot story out of Providence is that Bill Belichick seems to be abandoning his traditional 3-4 defense in favor of a 4-3, and that the Patriots have primarily been working with 4-3 Under and Over fronts in the first days of training camp. The release of Ty Warren and the trade for Albert Haynesworth could be viewed as additional evidence of a shift, as Warren is a prototypical five-technique while Haynesworth has done his best work in a 4-3 set. The real issue is finding someone who can rush off the edge, whether standing up or from a three-point stance.
New York Jets:
Aside from his foray into the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, general manager Mike Tannenbaum has largely been content to re-sign his players or to extend the contracts of younger stars. The big name was obviously Santonio Holmes, but Tannenbaum also locked up Antonio Cromartie and Eric Smith, extended David Harris another four years, and returned Donald Strickland, who had played for the team in 2009, to replace the departed Drew Coleman. Although maintaining continuity isn't always a good thing -- Carolina's decision to spend vast sums to return the young core of their 2-14 team comes immediately to mind -- the Jets fielded one of the most talented teams in the league last season, and the talent was fairly evenly distributed on both offense and defense.
If the Jets are going to take a step forward, they don't necessarily need to sign a bunch of free agents. What they do need is for Mark Sanchez to take another step forward in his development, and preferably a big step. So how best to ensure that your young quarterback has all the weapons he needs? How about signing a 34-year-old receiver who has been in jail for the past two years?
Here's a snippet of what he thinks of each team:
Buffalo Bills:
There was simply no way the Bills were going to be able to adequately address all their holes in the space of a single offseason, and to their credit, they haven't thrown lots of money around trying to. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a long-term solution at quarterback -- he may not even be a short-term solution -- but there were no surefire prospects worth burning a top-five draft pick on, and the free agent pickings were slim, particularly if you didn't want to give away the farm for Kevin Kolb. …
The right tackle spot, however, isn't a hole but a canyon, and it doesn't look like Buffalo has done enough to address it. The Bills were 30th in adjusted line yards on runs off right tackle, but that doesn't begin to tell the tale.
Miami Dolphins:
If you were to simply look at the statistics, quarterback would not necessarily be the biggest hole on the Dolphins. Safety Chris Clemons struggled badly getting to the sidelines to provide help over the top and offenses frequently targeted him in isolation in the deep middle of the field; the interior line could use some more help even after Mike Pouncey is inserted into the starting lineup and of course, the special teams were consistently horrific from beginning to end. …
Of course, there are lots of things that statistics don't cover, and it's those things that turned Henne's season from disappointing to catastrophic. Brandon Marshall publicly allied with backup Tyler Thigpen, and took his grievances with Henne to the airwaves, complaining about Henne's refusal to throw him the ball with sufficient frequency. Henne was benched during the season, reclaimed his starting job only because of injuries, and then was injured himself.
New England Patriots:
The hot story out of Providence is that Bill Belichick seems to be abandoning his traditional 3-4 defense in favor of a 4-3, and that the Patriots have primarily been working with 4-3 Under and Over fronts in the first days of training camp. The release of Ty Warren and the trade for Albert Haynesworth could be viewed as additional evidence of a shift, as Warren is a prototypical five-technique while Haynesworth has done his best work in a 4-3 set. The real issue is finding someone who can rush off the edge, whether standing up or from a three-point stance.
New York Jets:
Aside from his foray into the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, general manager Mike Tannenbaum has largely been content to re-sign his players or to extend the contracts of younger stars. The big name was obviously Santonio Holmes, but Tannenbaum also locked up Antonio Cromartie and Eric Smith, extended David Harris another four years, and returned Donald Strickland, who had played for the team in 2009, to replace the departed Drew Coleman. Although maintaining continuity isn't always a good thing -- Carolina's decision to spend vast sums to return the young core of their 2-14 team comes immediately to mind -- the Jets fielded one of the most talented teams in the league last season, and the talent was fairly evenly distributed on both offense and defense.
If the Jets are going to take a step forward, they don't necessarily need to sign a bunch of free agents. What they do need is for Mark Sanchez to take another step forward in his development, and preferably a big step. So how best to ensure that your young quarterback has all the weapons he needs? How about signing a 34-year-old receiver who has been in jail for the past two years?
New York Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins beamed into the NFL Network studios and delivered some pointed remarks about Jets fans and some former teammates.
"NFL Total Access" host Rich Eisen asked Jenkins to advise nervous Jets fans how to approach a season full of expectations but also question marks because of such key departures as running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, guard Alan Faneca and safety Kerry Rhodes.
"Suck it up. That's what y'all being doing so far," Jenkins said of the fans. "Look, you've got to understand that this is football, and if I could make a public-service announcement, I will say this: New York fans, we love you. This is Kris Jenkins. I am a little bit of a clown in my free time, so if I hurt your feelings I'm really not going to apologize because this is my time right now. ...
"If we win, then you get all your dreams coming true. If we lose, then you all get to do what you've been doing for a long time and talk about us until you basically run us out of the city. So you're going to get what you want either way. But we're going for a Super Bowl. So sit back, enjoy the ride. We're planning on doing it big."
Jenkins continued with a curious and disparaging comment about players who have left -- without naming names.
"We have great guys who have come in to step up, to fill in the void of some of these big losses that we have had this season," Jenkins said.
"Then in some other cases, we've had some real men come in and step in for the women that we lost. So we're going to be OK. Don't worry about it."
Jenkins probably was being that aforementioned clown, but Eisen didn't follow up with another question to clarify who Jenkins was referring to. Some players left on rougher terms than others. Many Jets weren't pleased to see guys like Jones, Faneca and kicker Jay Feely leave.
Rhodes would be a good guess as to one player Jenkins meant. But Jenkins did say "women" plural.
For the record, Jets who were on the final 2009 roster but not currently with the team (in addition to those listed above) are receiver Wallace Wright, defensive tackler Howard Green, defensive end Marques Douglas, linebackers Marques Murrell and Ryan Fowler, cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland, special-teams ace Larry Izzo and long snapper James Dearth.
Douglas reportedly will re-sign with the Jets later this week.
"NFL Total Access" host Rich Eisen asked Jenkins to advise nervous Jets fans how to approach a season full of expectations but also question marks because of such key departures as running backs Thomas Jones and Leon Washington, guard Alan Faneca and safety Kerry Rhodes.
[+] Enlarge
Doug Benc/Getty ImagesJets' nose tackle Kris Jenkins has a message for departed teammates: "We've had some real men come in and step in for the women that we lost."
Doug Benc/Getty ImagesJets' nose tackle Kris Jenkins has a message for departed teammates: "We've had some real men come in and step in for the women that we lost.""If we win, then you get all your dreams coming true. If we lose, then you all get to do what you've been doing for a long time and talk about us until you basically run us out of the city. So you're going to get what you want either way. But we're going for a Super Bowl. So sit back, enjoy the ride. We're planning on doing it big."
Jenkins continued with a curious and disparaging comment about players who have left -- without naming names.
"We have great guys who have come in to step up, to fill in the void of some of these big losses that we have had this season," Jenkins said.
"Then in some other cases, we've had some real men come in and step in for the women that we lost. So we're going to be OK. Don't worry about it."
Jenkins probably was being that aforementioned clown, but Eisen didn't follow up with another question to clarify who Jenkins was referring to. Some players left on rougher terms than others. Many Jets weren't pleased to see guys like Jones, Faneca and kicker Jay Feely leave.
Rhodes would be a good guess as to one player Jenkins meant. But Jenkins did say "women" plural.
For the record, Jets who were on the final 2009 roster but not currently with the team (in addition to those listed above) are receiver Wallace Wright, defensive tackler Howard Green, defensive end Marques Douglas, linebackers Marques Murrell and Ryan Fowler, cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland, special-teams ace Larry Izzo and long snapper James Dearth.
Douglas reportedly will re-sign with the Jets later this week.
Every time I write an item about ratings for the "Madden" video game, I receive responses from readers who just don't understand the phenomenon.
"Madden" has become an NFL institution. Back in the day, athletes used to know they made it when they saw themselves on a trading card and would compare them over the years. Now they eagerly await their video-game ratings.
On Monday's edition of "NFL Live," host Suzy Kolber asked studio analysts Tedy Bruschi and Eric Allen how much "Madden" scores matter among the players.
Allen mentioned he played on teams that gave out championship belts.
"It was a big deal to win the Madden challenge at the end of training camp," Allen said.
Bruschi said Madden carried "a lot of weight, especially the younger [players]" with the New England Patriots.
"I remember plenty of locker-room conversations where guys are talking about their speed ratings, their strength ratings," Bruschi said.
"But I'll tell you what's most important: Your awareness rating. If you've got a 60 or a 65 awareness, you need to get yourself in the film room because even Madden sees it."
EA Sports, maker of the "Madden" franchise, is leaking ratings for teams, star players and top rookies here and there, but a complete list of individual player scores hasn't been released. "Madden NFL 11" comes out in August.
Since Bruschi brought it up, here are some of the notable AFC East veterans (rookies and players who haven't seen much action are skewed much lower) who had weak awareness ratings in "Madden NFL 10" last year.
"Madden" has become an NFL institution. Back in the day, athletes used to know they made it when they saw themselves on a trading card and would compare them over the years. Now they eagerly await their video-game ratings.
On Monday's edition of "NFL Live," host Suzy Kolber asked studio analysts Tedy Bruschi and Eric Allen how much "Madden" scores matter among the players.
Allen mentioned he played on teams that gave out championship belts.
"It was a big deal to win the Madden challenge at the end of training camp," Allen said.
Bruschi said Madden carried "a lot of weight, especially the younger [players]" with the New England Patriots.
"I remember plenty of locker-room conversations where guys are talking about their speed ratings, their strength ratings," Bruschi said.
"But I'll tell you what's most important: Your awareness rating. If you've got a 60 or a 65 awareness, you need to get yourself in the film room because even Madden sees it."
EA Sports, maker of the "Madden" franchise, is leaking ratings for teams, star players and top rookies here and there, but a complete list of individual player scores hasn't been released. "Madden NFL 11" comes out in August.
Since Bruschi brought it up, here are some of the notable AFC East veterans (rookies and players who haven't seen much action are skewed much lower) who had weak awareness ratings in "Madden NFL 10" last year.
- 68 Chris Baker, Patriots tight end (now with Seahawks)
- 68 Brandon Meriweather, Patriots safety
- 67 Fred Jackson, Bills running back
- 67 Bryan Thomas, Jets outside linebacker
- 66 Chansi Stuckey, Jets receiver
- 64 Reggie Torbor, Dolphins linebacker (now with Bills)
- 63 Jason Allen, Dolphins defensive back
- 63 Tully Banta-Cain, Patriots outside linebacker
- 63 Donte Whitner, Bills safety
- 62 John McCargo, Bills defensive tackle
- 61 Donald Strickland, Jets cornerback (now with Chargers)
- 44 Phillip Merling, Dolphins defensive end
In what might be the biggest shocker of the first round, New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum refrained from getting in on all the trades and stayed put, taking Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson with their originally assigned 29th pick.
Why the Jets took him: As Bill Belichick showed when the New England Patriots selected Devin McCourty with the 27th pick, cornerbacks are a precious commodity, and Jets coach Rex Ryan values them more than most.
Where Wilson fits: Looks like he'll see most of his action at nickel back because the Jets have potentially the NFL's best starting cornerback duo in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Last year's nickel, Donald Strickland, was cast adrift in free agency.
Scouts Inc. says: Makes a quick transition out of back-pedal. Breaks on the ball extremely well and closes quickly when receivers make a catch in front of him. However, lacks elite recovery speed and struggles to recover when gets caught in a trail position. ... Displays good short-term memory loss and can bounce back after getting beaten. Shows good anticipation of routes in zone coverage. Does a nice job of mid-pointing the high-low route concepts working near the sideline. However, needs to do a better job of getting head turned around in time to locate the ball.
Why the Jets took him: As Bill Belichick showed when the New England Patriots selected Devin McCourty with the 27th pick, cornerbacks are a precious commodity, and Jets coach Rex Ryan values them more than most.
Where Wilson fits: Looks like he'll see most of his action at nickel back because the Jets have potentially the NFL's best starting cornerback duo in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Last year's nickel, Donald Strickland, was cast adrift in free agency.
Scouts Inc. says: Makes a quick transition out of back-pedal. Breaks on the ball extremely well and closes quickly when receivers make a catch in front of him. However, lacks elite recovery speed and struggles to recover when gets caught in a trail position. ... Displays good short-term memory loss and can bounce back after getting beaten. Shows good anticipation of routes in zone coverage. Does a nice job of mid-pointing the high-low route concepts working near the sideline. However, needs to do a better job of getting head turned around in time to locate the ball.
Patriots win out in compensatory forecast
March, 10, 2010
3/10/10
8:32
AM ET
By Tim Graham | ESPN.com
In the book of great NFL mysteries, it's listed on the same page as "How did the Raiders wash Fred Biletnikoff's socks?"
The unanswerable question I'm referring to: "How does the NFL determine compensatory picks?"
Nobody knows because the league refuses to provide detailed insight into the formula. We know it depends on the number of free agents gained and lost the previous offseason and how well those players performed that year. Factors include the player's salary, playing time and awards -- we think.
But there's a compensatory vigilante out there who goes by the handle AdamJT13. He seems to have darn near cracked the code and has been giving accurate forecasts for 10 years.
My personal policy is not to link to people who write anonymously, but AdamJT13 has a track record and provides a unique service. With that in mind, here are his compensatory projections for AFC East clubs. The NFL will announce the official rundown in a couple weeks.
Buffalo Bills: None. They signed two qualifying free agents (quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, center Geoff Hangartner) and lost two (cornerback Jabari Greer, linebacker Angelo Crowell). AdamJT13 adds the Bills could get a compensatory pick at the end of the seventh round based on net value of the players lost, depending on the evaluations.
Miami Dolphins: Sixth-round pick. AdamJT13 notes it might be a seventh-rounder, or depending on how the NFL views guard Joe Berger, nothing at all. They signed one definite qualifying free agent (center Jake Grove) and lost two definites (cornerback Andre' Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill).
New England Patriots: Four seventh-round picks for losing receiver Jabar Gaffney, long-snapper Lonie Paxton, fullback Heath Evans and running back LaMont Jordan, but not signing any definite qualifying free agents. Gaffney could be good enough for a sixth-rounder.
New York Jets: None. They signed at least as many qualifying free agents (linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard, cornerback Donald Strickland and maybe linebacker Larry Izzo) as they lost (receiver Laveranues Coles, linebacker Eric Barton, defensive end C.J. Mosley and maybe cornerback Hank Poteat).
The unanswerable question I'm referring to: "How does the NFL determine compensatory picks?"
Nobody knows because the league refuses to provide detailed insight into the formula. We know it depends on the number of free agents gained and lost the previous offseason and how well those players performed that year. Factors include the player's salary, playing time and awards -- we think.
But there's a compensatory vigilante out there who goes by the handle AdamJT13. He seems to have darn near cracked the code and has been giving accurate forecasts for 10 years.
My personal policy is not to link to people who write anonymously, but AdamJT13 has a track record and provides a unique service. With that in mind, here are his compensatory projections for AFC East clubs. The NFL will announce the official rundown in a couple weeks.
Buffalo Bills: None. They signed two qualifying free agents (quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, center Geoff Hangartner) and lost two (cornerback Jabari Greer, linebacker Angelo Crowell). AdamJT13 adds the Bills could get a compensatory pick at the end of the seventh round based on net value of the players lost, depending on the evaluations.
Miami Dolphins: Sixth-round pick. AdamJT13 notes it might be a seventh-rounder, or depending on how the NFL views guard Joe Berger, nothing at all. They signed one definite qualifying free agent (center Jake Grove) and lost two definites (cornerback Andre' Goodman and safety Renaldo Hill).
New England Patriots: Four seventh-round picks for losing receiver Jabar Gaffney, long-snapper Lonie Paxton, fullback Heath Evans and running back LaMont Jordan, but not signing any definite qualifying free agents. Gaffney could be good enough for a sixth-rounder.
New York Jets: None. They signed at least as many qualifying free agents (linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard, cornerback Donald Strickland and maybe linebacker Larry Izzo) as they lost (receiver Laveranues Coles, linebacker Eric Barton, defensive end C.J. Mosley and maybe cornerback Hank Poteat).
I feel badly for my Buffalo Bills readers because I haven't had much to share Friday.
The rest of the AFC East has been publicly active.
What happened at One Bills Drive?
All we've heard is a report Kansas City Chiefs free-agent offensive lineman Wade Smith is in town for a visit.
While this might be disappointing to Bills fans who were hoping for big transactions at the start of free agency, this wasn't unexpected. New general manager Buddy Nix said from the moment he was hired the Bills would rebuild through the draft, not free agency.
Here is what Nix had to say at his introductory news conference on New Year's Eve:
"I've seen it done both ways over a number of years," Nix said, "but free agency to me should be middle-priced to below-priced guys, not the high-dollar guy that's going to bring you the big bang when you sign him.
"That money ought to go to our guys that played good and you reward them by extending them and keeping them around. We know what we got. Let's build that way. Let's make that team know that we're going to do that.
"Then we take places that we're weak after the draft and plug in guys. They don't have to be star players."
The rest of the AFC East has been publicly active.
- The New England Patriots re-signed nose tackle Vince Wilfork and outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, made an offer to pass-rusher Julius Peppers and reportedly got highly involved in trade talks with the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin.
- The Miami Dolphins hosted inside linebacker commodity Karlos Dansby, released three defensive starters and appear close to re-signing quarterback Chad Pennington.
- The New York Jets, a day after trading for cornerback Antonio Cromartie, released running back Thomas Jones and cornerback Donald Strickland and announced safety Kerry Rhodes would be back for 2010.
What happened at One Bills Drive?
All we've heard is a report Kansas City Chiefs free-agent offensive lineman Wade Smith is in town for a visit.
While this might be disappointing to Bills fans who were hoping for big transactions at the start of free agency, this wasn't unexpected. New general manager Buddy Nix said from the moment he was hired the Bills would rebuild through the draft, not free agency.
Here is what Nix had to say at his introductory news conference on New Year's Eve:
"I've seen it done both ways over a number of years," Nix said, "but free agency to me should be middle-priced to below-priced guys, not the high-dollar guy that's going to bring you the big bang when you sign him.
"That money ought to go to our guys that played good and you reward them by extending them and keeping them around. We know what we got. Let's build that way. Let's make that team know that we're going to do that.
"Then we take places that we're weak after the draft and plug in guys. They don't have to be star players."
Ranking the AFC East secondaries
February, 18, 2010
2/18/10
1:21
PM ET
By Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson | ESPN.com
Icon SMIDarrelle Revis and Brandon Meriweather are two of the AFC East's star defensive backs, and Miami cornerback Vontae Davis has the potential to be very soon.
1. New York Jets
A lot has been written about Darrelle Revis. Like many, I put him at the top of the cornerback list. He would have been my NFL Defensive Player of the Year for 2009. But he can cover only one receiver at a time.
I contend that New York’s biggest offseason need is a starting cornerback opposite Revis. Donald Strickland, Lito Sheppard and Dwight Lowery are all best suited for third cornerback duties. Lowery is my favorite of these three, but he has physical limitations.
Jets head coach Rex Ryan obviously expects a lot out of this position and an upgrade could make an excellent defense even better. Strong safety Jim Leonhard is a personal favorite of mine. The guy has some limitations of course, but he just makes plays -- especially as a coverage player. Free safety Kerry Rhodes took some criticism during the 2009 season, but I contend that he is a well above average all-around safety. Year 2 in this defense could really yield dividends for Rhodes. Backup free safety Eric Smith could leave via free agency, but he was a liability for most of the season.
Overall, the Jets get the edge as the best secondary in the division weighted heavily on what Revis brings to the table.
2. New England Patriots
While I give the Buffalo Bills’ set of safeties the nod as the division’s best pair, I’m high on the Patriots’ Brandon Meriweather. He’s the best safety overall in the AFC East. As good as he is at strong safety, Meriweather and the Patriots would benefit from an upgrade at free safety. Brandon McGowan is a force against the run, but is too often exposed in coverage. Fellow free safety James Sanders is too ordinary in both facets.
At cornerback, veterans Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs caught way too much heat for New England’s pass defense issues. Remember, this is a defense that lacks much of a pass rush. These two are still starting caliber, particularly Bodden (an unrestricted free agent).
The younger guys are the problem. Surely they will improve, but Darius Butler, Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite collectively did little to get excited about in 2009. If Bodden is retained, the Pats squeak ahead of the Bills as the second-best secondary in the division. Without Bodden, Buffalo has a distinct advantage.
3. Buffalo Bills
When evaluating the safeties in this division, I think you have to give that position to the Bills. In 2009, safety Jairus Byrd obviously made a ton of impact plays as a rookie and was an extremely pleasant surprise. His ability to play the ball and his coverage abilities overall are very strong, but when it comes to playing the run, let’s just say that isn’t his specialty. I am a big fan of safety Donte Whitner, too. Last season wasn’t his best campaign, but he is very talented and versatile. Fellow safeties George Wilson and Bryan Scott are not household names, but both are very solid players who deserve playing time, though Scott might leave via free agency. I still have hope for Leodis McKelvin to develop into an upper-tier cornerback. Overall, the threesome of McKelvin, Drayton Florence and Terrence McGee was underwhelming in 2009.
4. Miami Dolphins
Vontae Davis and Sean Smith get a lot of ink as the Dolphins’ starting rookie cornerbacks. Smith began the season strong, but his unusual body type and struggles flipping his hips always might hold him back. To me, he finished the season as a somewhat overrated player.
But Davis could be on the verge of stardom. Like Smith, he made some rookie mistakes, but this kid has it all physically. He will be a true No. 1 cover man -- maybe as soon as next season. Third cornerback Will Allen is serviceable, but not dynamic.
Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell are both average starting caliber strong safeties. But the problem in Miami is that neither has the skill set for deep patrol. The lack of a true free safety-type hurt this pass defense and is a clear offseason need.
ESPN's John Clayton takes a spin around the conference in his weekly "AFC Huddle."
Clayton leads off with what happens next for the New York Jets. He doesn't see running back Thomas Jones or cornerback Lito Sheppard coming back in 2010 and wonders how they'll eventually replace left guard Alan Faneca and right tackle Damien Woody.
Also addressed are the number of changes in store for the Buffalo Bills under new head coach Chan Gailey. Will Gailey switch the Bills to a 3-4 defense? Will Trent Edwards get another shot to be the quarterback?
AP Photo/Michael ConroyJets quarterback Mark Sanchez made great strides Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, but fell just short.The New York Jets weren't interested in talking about great accomplishments or exceeding logical expectations, not so soon after Peyton Manning's surgical performance drained their postseason life.
"It's too fresh of a wound to say anything to make yourself feel better," Jets safety Jim Leonhard said of any buck-up-little-camper talk.
The Jets' charmed season ended Sunday amid a blizzard of blue and white glitter fired from sideline cannons in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Indianapolis Colts came from behind to jilt the Jets 30-17 for the AFC crown.
"Everybody's disappointed that we didn't go to the Super Bowl, especially when we were this close," Jets left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson said, almost spitting out the words. "We didn't do everything that we needed to win. But at the same rate, we did do a lot of great things.
"I can't even say we're second. Nobody wants to be third or fourth. Maybe in a week or two it will be different."
Implausible as it seemed before the game, the Jets looked like they would sabotage the coronation, giving the crowd of 67,650 a collective coronary by building an 11-point lead late in the second quarter.
Manning calmly swayed momentum before halftime and, by the third quarter, staked the Jets in the heart -- repeatedly.
"With Peyton Manning, if you can't disrupt his rhythm he's going to kill you," Jets coach Rex Ryan said, "and we couldn't disrupt it enough."
And so it ended for the Jets, their captivating run falling about 23 minutes short of the Super Bowl.
The Jets have plenty to be thrilled about for the future, but they couldn't bring themselves to consider any of it.
"It's hard to be proud right now, but we came a long way," left guard Alan Faneca mumbled with a dismissive shrug. "We fought through a lot of stuff. We came together as a team. Yeah, there's stuff to be proud of."
The Jets defied the odds over the past couple months.
They trudged onward without Pro Bowl nose tackle Kris Jenkins, Pro Bowl kick returner and running back Leon Washington and special-teams legend Larry Izzo, all lost to season-ending injuries along the way.
They helped rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez decipher the NFL in the nick of time. Even though Ryan declared them mathematically eliminated from the postseason race after Week 15, they won their final two games and received an astronomical amount of outside help to slip into the playoffs.
On the road throughout the playoffs, the Jets upset a pair of division champs to reach Indianapolis, known as the Crossroads of America.
The Jets might look back on Sunday as the crossroads of their organization.
"Maybe this football team needed to get here and have this experience in order to take the next step," Leonhard said. "We thought we were ready this year. Maybe we weren't. We have to take this experience and learn from it."
[+] Enlarge
Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesAll-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis didn't have much of an impact against the Colts.
Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesAll-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis didn't have much of an impact against the Colts. - Rookie running back Shonn Greene, their playoff MVP, suffered a rib injury in the third quarter and carried 10 times for 41 yards. The Jets' offense stalled in his absence, failing to score again.
- Inside linebacker Bart Scott's ankle injury carried into the game and rendered him "a one-legged man," Ryan said. Scott made two tackles.
- The Jets decided to use young cornerback Dwight Lowery instead of veteran Lito Sheppard, a move Manning said pleasantly surprised him. Nickel back Donald Strickland went down with a groin injury in the first quarter.
- Darrelle Revis playing like an All-Pro wasn't enough. Manning made Revis Island seem like Grenada.
- Jay Feely missed field goals from 44 yards and 52 yards, not only failing to score points, but also forfeiting prime field position.
Even so, dissecting what went into the final score of a single excruciating game is pointless when you have much broader issues to reflect upon and such a luminescent future ahead.
The Jets are an organization on the rise. As Leonhard mentioned a few times, "You never know when an opportunity like this is going to come again." But the Jets established themselves as a team to fear for years to come.
A foundation for long-term success is well in place. They're a defensive colossus and will get Jenkins back next season. The Jets might have the NFL's best offensive line, with Pro Bowlers from center to left tackle.
Perhaps even more significant, Sanchez grew up before our eyes over the final five weeks. He played with poise Sunday, completing 17 of 30 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns with one interception that was overthrown but also tipped.
"Mark played great, and hopefully that's the thing that we're seeing from this point on," Ryan said. "You see that confidence that he has. He knows our offense. He's comfortable.
"When we come back, we'll be able to hit the ground running, which obviously is a lot different than how we entered this season."
We probably saw the baton passed from veteran running back Thomas Jones to Greene. Second-year tight end Dustin Keller emerged as a money target with a touchdown reception in each of their three playoff games.
"We're close. There is no question," Ryan said. "We accomplished a heck of a lot. We thought we could win it all. We really did. We don't need a whole lot."
Except maybe some time to heal.
CINCINNATI -- It's warmer here in Paul Brown Stadium than it was six days ago in the Meadowlands.
Still, my blood turned to slush on my walk from the parking garage to the press box.
A handful of players are milling about on the field to get ready for the 4:30 p.m. kickoff, but not as many as you'd usually see about 90 minutes before kickoff. The game forecast is for a wind chill of 14 degrees, but only a 10 percent chance of snow.
The field appears to be in decent shape. Snow encrusts the bottom rim of the stadium floor where it meets the stands. But the playing surface appears to be free of ice.
Referee Bill Leavy's crew has drawn the assignment.
A quick look at the 2009 officiating ledger shows Leavy's crew has called 188 penalties, fifth-fewest among the NFL's 17 crews. Nothing unusual jumps out about the types of calls from Leavy and his men. Offensive holding (36) and offsides (31) led the way, as you would expect. They called defensive pass interference 10 times.
Here are the inactives for the game:
New York Jets
Still, my blood turned to slush on my walk from the parking garage to the press box.
A handful of players are milling about on the field to get ready for the 4:30 p.m. kickoff, but not as many as you'd usually see about 90 minutes before kickoff. The game forecast is for a wind chill of 14 degrees, but only a 10 percent chance of snow.
The field appears to be in decent shape. Snow encrusts the bottom rim of the stadium floor where it meets the stands. But the playing surface appears to be free of ice.
Referee Bill Leavy's crew has drawn the assignment.
A quick look at the 2009 officiating ledger shows Leavy's crew has called 188 penalties, fifth-fewest among the NFL's 17 crews. Nothing unusual jumps out about the types of calls from Leavy and his men. Offensive holding (36) and offsides (31) led the way, as you would expect. They called defensive pass interference 10 times.
Here are the inactives for the game:
New York Jets
- Quarterback Erik Ainge (third QB)
- Quarterback Kevin O'Connell
- Running back Chauncey Washington
- Guard Matt Slauson
- Defensive end Ropati Pitoitua
- Linebacker Ryan Fowler
- Linebacker Marques Murrell
- Cornerback Donald Strickland
- Quarterback Jordan Palmer
- Running back Larry Johnson
- Fullback Fui Vakapuna
- Receiver Jerome Simpson
- Tight end Darius Hill
- Center Jonathan Luigs
- Defensive tackle Orien Harris
- Safety Tom Nelson
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Cincinnati Bengals are going to rest at least one key starter Sunday night against the New York Jets.
The Bengals have scratched running back Cedric Benson and named rookie Bernard Scott the starter. The Bengals also have Larry Johnson. Benson rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns this year and is a candidate for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have scratched running back Cedric Benson and named rookie Bernard Scott the starter. The Bengals also have Larry Johnson. Benson rushed for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns this year and is a candidate for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Quarterback JORDAN Palmer (third QB). I repeat, Jordan Palmer
- Running back Cedric Benson
- Fullback Fui Vakapuna
- Tight end J.P. Foschi
- Center Jonathan Luigs
- Defensive end Robert Geathers
- Defensive tackle Domata Peko
- Safety Chris Crocker
- Quarterback Erik Ainge (third QB)
- Quarterback Kevin O'Connell
- Running back Chauncey Washington
- Receiver David Clowney
- Guard Matt Slauson
- Linebacker Kenwin Cummings
- Linebacker Marques Murrell
- Cornerback Donald Strickland
TORONTO -- An hour before kickoff for the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills at the Rogers Centre, and the atmosphere is almost as lively as a board meeting. What a comedown from the Superdome.
The inactive lists were just distributed with no surprises. Cornerback Terrence McGee is back after missing three games following minor knee surgery, but Reggie Corner will start on the left side anyway.
New York Jets inactive list
The inactive lists were just distributed with no surprises. Cornerback Terrence McGee is back after missing three games following minor knee surgery, but Reggie Corner will start on the left side anyway.
New York Jets inactive list
- Quarterback Erik Ainge (third QB)
- Quarterback Kevin O'Connell
- Offensive lineman Robert Turner
- Defensive end Ropati Pitoitua
- Linebacker Kenwin Cummings
- Linebacker Ryan Fowler
- Cornerback Dwight Lowery
- Cornerback Donald Strickland
- Quarterback Brian Brohm
- Receiver Steve Johnson
- Receiver James Hardy
- Left tackle Demetrius Bell
- Defensive tackle John McCargo
- Defensive end Chris Ellis
- Defensive back Cary Harris
- Cornerback Ashton Youboty
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
